Folding chair



Nov. 7, 1950 H. J. WALTERS 2,528,676

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harry J Walters INVENTOR.

H. J. WALTERS FOLDING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21. 1948 Harry J. Walters I JNVENTOR.

' 9 BY my A mmqs Nov. 7, 1950 H. J. WALTERS 2,528,676

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Harry J. Walters INVENTOR.

waayvM Patentecl Nov. 7 1:950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CHAIR Harry J. Walters, Auburn, Wash. Application January 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,579

1 The invention relates to a folding chair, and has for an object to provide a collapsible or folding chair for use whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible or folding seat so that it may be compactly and rapidly folded into a very small .area for carrying around.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means which will prevent accidental collapse and will enable the device'to be carried about. A

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device that is roomy and comfortable and capable of use in many different places.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features-of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, which are exemplified in the descriptionhereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the device showing the back of a seat being pushed forward;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention showing it in partly collapsed condition;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device showing it completely closed and ready to be carried;

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the seat locking means;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail hinged attaching means;

Figure 7 is a perspective detail of the hook means to attach the bottom to the sides;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective detail of Figure 6, shown at a different angle; and

Figure 9 shows the anchor hook means.

Referring to the embodiment disclosed in the figures, the folding chair is generally indicated at M, preferably of pressed steel, but any other suitable material may be used, and consists of a seat l2, a pair of oppositely disposed depending showing the legs I4, I6, 2. pair of upwardly extending sides or arms I8, 20, and a back rest 22.

Seat [2 is of substantial length and width sufficiently large to accommodate an adult person and includes a pair of diametrically opposite, upwardly extending flanges 24, 26, preferably of 5 Claims. (01.. 155-14 integral construction, although riveted or bolted flanges will be satisfactory. A pair of hinges 28, extending the entire width of seat 12 are secured by suitable vmeans 30, such as rivets or the like, to the free edges of flanges 24, 26 and to the ends of legs l4, l6 forpivotal'movement of the legs, as will presently be described.

Referring to Figure '7, the means .to retain legs [4 in locked position is clearly illustrated. A plurality of U-shaped eyes 32, 34, are secured to the underside of seat 12, while eye 36 is secured to leg l4 at a point where theleg is out of abutment with seat flange 24. It is to be noted that flanges 24. 26 prevent the rotation of legs l4, l6 beyond the point where they are perpendicular to the ground, and further help to brace them in order to prevent the tottering of the device when in use. A U-shaped retaining hook consisting of a short leg 38, a longer leg 40, and connecting leg 42 (see Figure 9), is supplied through eyes'34, 36' when the chair is in use to hold leg I4 rigid against seat l2, Leg 40 is curved inwardly at its free end at 44 to prevent accidental loss of the locking means when the device is inverted. Eye 32 is placed in close proximity to eye 34 to receive leg 38 when the chair is folded and thus avoid swinging motion of the hook. Of course, it is understood that similar retaining means are supplied to the other leg 5.

Legs I4, [6 rest on the ground, or on any level surface through a flat base portion 46, 48, respectively, integral with the free ends of the legs and are turned upwardly at 50, 52 to parallel legs l4, IS in order to avoid scarring the surface upon which they rest. As may clearly be seen in Figure 4, a second pair of U-shaped eyes 54, 56 are secured to legs l4, l6, respectively. adjacent base portions 46, 48. Thus, when the chair is in closed position, a U-shaped hook similar .to that supplied to retain the device against collapse when in use is slipped into eyes 54, 56

to hold the chair against accidental opening. Eye 58 is placed adjacent 54 and holds the hook member when not in use.

Sides or arms :8 and 29 include an arcuately curved flange 8Q, 62 upon which the users arms rest and is as wide as seat !2. The lower section of sides i8, 20 are of frusto-conical shape 64, 66 and rest on seat 52 and abut the inner edges of flanges 24, 26 for support and limitation of movement. Hinges 68 secure the arms to the seat and provide pivotal movement as well. I

Back 22 is foldably secured to seat [2 by a long hinge member I0 on its interior surface adjacent its lower edge and is connected to'arms i8, 26 by means of a pair of transversely extending bars 12, M hinged at 75, 18. A pair of inclined hinges 80, 82 join back 22 and bars 12, 1 5 in a manner to readily enable it to be folded inwardly. A handle member 84 slidably retained in sockets 8'6, 88, assists in carrying the device.

Figure 1 discloses the device in open position and ready for use. 'It has been particularly designed for use in an automobile to allow a child to sit on the parents lap without tiring them. Bases 45, 48 rest on the seat of the automobile and seat 12 straddles the lap. The child is able to move about freely due to the width of the chairand never feels cramped. However, it is readily understood that the invention is not limited to use with an automobile, but can be utilized at home, in the restaurants, at ball games, theaters,

picnics, or trains and buses and is wide enough to comfortably support an adult, if so desired. Figure 2 discloses the device in the first stages of folding prior to storing. Handle 84 is up and back 22 is pushed forward. This serves to pull armsJB, Zil'down. Figure 3 shows the back and sidescollapsed and legs M, I5 pivoted around in the process of rotating in the direction of the arrows. Final position for the legs is shown in dotted lines in the figure and the entire device in collapsed and locked position, ready to be carried away, is clearly shown in Figure 4. Obviously,'hooks 38 have been removed from locking position, Whenever necessary, prior to colla'psing'the chair.v Arcuate portions 56, 62 fit within base portions 36, 8, respectively, and arms; i6, i8 rest on back 22 which, in turn, rests onseat i2. Thus it is readily apparent that a simple'yetefiicient portablechair, and one which occupies little space when folded, has been provided.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction'and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A folding chair including a seat, a pair of downwardly depending legs, hinge means rotatably securing said legs to said seat, a back, means rotatably securing said-back to said seat, a pair of oppositely disposed arms and hinge means securing said back to said arms and said arms to said seat, said seat including a pair of upwardly extending diametrically opposite flanges, said first named hinge means being mounted on said flanges and secured to said legs, so that on rotation, said flanges. act as a brace and a stop for said legs. 7

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said legs include a flat base to rest on a support surface.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said legs'and seat are provided with locking means.

4. The combination of claim 1,'wherein said legs include means to lock the chair when folded in order to retain said chair in folded position.

5. The combination of claim 1 said. thirdnamed means including a pair of transverse bars, 7

and hinges terminally rotatably securing said bars to said back and said arms to enable the chairto be folded l HARRY J. WALTERS.

I REFERENCES CITED A The following references are of record in the file of this patent:. I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number -Name; Date 371,699 MOIIlS Oct. 18, 1837 2,050,114 Moore Aug. 4, 1936 

